Since the disastrous event with the moths Geoffrey didn't bring anything new into the class. Instead he gave them dramatic readings of his books including reenactments which he would drag the students into. Silver had to play a Zilla in the most resent class. If it wasn't for the fact that he needed Geoffrey in a good mood he would have refused. After what felt like an eternity the bell rang "Homework. Compose a poem on my defeat of the Zilla gorilla. A signed copy of Magical Me for the best one". Silver joined Coral at the back of the class "Alright, let's go" "Wait for the rest of the class to leave" she said nervously. Once they did Coral slowly walked up to the desk "Uh… Professor St John, I wanted to get this book… Just for background reading… But it's in the Restricted Section". She held out the permission slip with a quivering hand "So I need a teacher to give me permission. I'm sure it would help me understand what you say in Cackling Karleks about slow-acting venoms". Goeffrey laughed "Ah, Cackling Karleks, possibly my very favourite book. You enjoyed it?" "Oh, yes. So clever, the way you trapped that last one". Goeffrey took the slip and signed it "Well, I'm sure no one will mind me giving the best student of the year a little extra help" he said warmly. He pulled out an enormous peacock quill "Yes, nice, isn't it?" he said misreading the revolted look on Razor's face "I usually save it for book-signings". As Coral folded the slip into her pocket Geoffrey turned his attention to Silver "Now, Silver, Tomorrow's the first Sky Chase match of the season. Shinobi vs Raiju, I believe. I hear you're a useful player. I was a Seeker, too. I was asked to try for the National Squad, but preferred to dedicate my life to the eradication of the Dark Forces. Still, if ever you feel the need for a little private training, don't hesitate to ask. Always happy to pass on my expertise to less able players…". Silver held back the urge to throw something, gave a quick nod and followed the others out of the class. Silver stared at the permission slip "I don't believe it. He didn't even ask what book we wanted" "That's because he's a brainless git" Razor said annoying Coral "He is not!". They entered the library and told Misty-Re about the book. She looked suspicious and she tried to take the slip but Coral didn't let go "I was wondering if I could keep it" "Oh, come on!" Razor grabbed the slip and handed it to Misty-Re. She held it to the light trying to find signs of a forgery. Eventually she gave up and returned with the book. The three walked out fo the library trying not to look guilty.
They were now barricaded in Lah's bathroom, she would moan from one of the toilets occasionally but they managed to ignore her. They could see immediately why the book was in the restricted sections. The book was full of potions too gruesome to describe. There were some unpleasant illustrations including a man who turned himself inside out "Here it is". Silver saw pictures of people halfway through transforming into others, he hoped the looks of pain on their faces were just for effect. The list of ingredients took more than one page "This is the most complicated potion I've ever seen. Some of this I can get from the student store cupboard but others I'm not sure. We'll also need some of the person we're changing into". Razor looked horrified "What? Some of the person we're changing into? I'm not drinking Tumble's toenails" "We'll need that last" Coral said ignoring him. Silver had a different worry "Coral the only place we can get some of these is in Infinite's private store. I don't think that's a good idea" "Look, if you two are going to chicken out, fine. I don't want to break rules, you know. I think threatening Muggle-borns is far worse than brewing up a difficult potion. But if you don't want to find out if it's Rutan, I'll go straight to Misty-Re now and hand the book back in". Razor looked impressed "I never thought I'd see the day when you wanted us to break rules. Alright, I'm in. But no toenails". Silver nodded in agreement "Alright, fine. How long will it take to make this" "A month". Razor's eyes widened "A month? But, Coral, Rutan could attack half the muggle-borns in the school by then". Coral gave him a dangerous glare which made him give a fake smile "But it's the best plan we've got so full steam ahead". She went back to the book as Razor leaned closer to Silver "It would save us a lot of hassle if you knocked Rutan off his board Tomorrow".
Silver woke up early Saturday morning, he lay there for a while very nervous. He worried about what he'd be facing in this match. He was going up against a team with better boards. Eventually he dragged himself out of bed and headed down to the Common Room for the early breakfast that had been prepared. The rest of the team were huddled around one of the tables, looking very grim and not speaking much. As eleven o'clock approached, the whole school started to make its way down to the Sky Chase stadium. It was a muggy sort of day with a hint of thunder in the air. Razor and Coral came hurrying over to wish Silver good luck as he entered the locker rooms. The team pulled on their black jump suits, then sat down to listen to Khan's usual pre-match pep talk "There's no reason to deny it. Raiju have better boards than us. But we have better people on the boards. We've trained harder than they have, we've been flying in all weathers". Ray nodded "Too true, I haven't been properly dry since August" "We're going to make them rue the day they let that little bit of slime, Rutan, buy his way onto their team". Everyone cheered, Khan's chest was heaving with emotion as he turned to Silver "It'll be down to you, Silver, to show them that a Seeker has to have something more than a rich father. Get to that Ga before Rutan or die trying, Silver, because we've got to win today, we've got to" "But don't think you're under any pressure" Mighty added. As they walked out onto the pitch, a roar of noise greeted them; mainly cheers, because Gossamer and Yagyu were anxious to see Raiju beaten, but the Raijus in the crowd made their boos and hisses heard, too. Madam Longclaw, the Sky Chase teacher, asked Konor and Khan to shake hands, which they did, giving each other threatening stares and gripping rather harder than was necessary. Longclaw gave a whistle and the players all rose up into the air. Silver rose high enough to give him a good view of the pitch to try and find the Ga "Alright there Bright Eyes". Silver saw Rutan close by, before he could give a reply a Thunderball suddenly shot right at him.
He dived to avoid it but he could feel it rush past his quills. Ray arrived and hit the Thunderball away "That was a close one, Silver". The ball changed in midair and headed right back at Silver who rushed to avoid it. Ray gave it another whack at Rutan but it again went right for Silver. He raced across the pitch trying to avoid it. He went around the high stands of the spectators. He did a quick turn, the ball crashed right into one of the wooden beams of the spectators box and then burst out the other side to continue the pursuit. Silver didn't understand what was going, the Thunderballs were never this violent. He spotted Mighty flying towards him, he ducked and Mighty hit the ball away. Rutan arrived laughing "Training for the ballet, Hedgehog!?". The Thunderball was now racing back towards them. Silver didn't have a clue what was going on in the rest of the game until he heard Manic who was commentating "Raiju lead, sixty points to zero". The Raiju's superior boards were clearly doing their jobs, and meanwhile the mad ball was doing all it could to knock Silver out of the air. Mighty and Ray were now flying so close to him on either side that Silver could see nothing at all except their flailing arms and had no chance to look for the Ga, let alone catch it. Mighty blocked another hit "Someone's…. Tampered… With… That… Ball…" "We need a time out" Ray said stopping Silver's nose from getting broken. Khan got the message and signalled to Longclaw who blew her whistle. They all landed on the ground. Khan looked exhausted "What's going on. Ray, where were you when that ball stopped Perci from scoring?" "I was trying to stop the other one from killing Silver" he sounded angry. Mighty was just as angry "That ball's been tampered with. It hasn't left Silver alone all game" "But they've been locked in Longclaw's office since our last practice, and there was nothing wrong with them then". Silver saw Longclaw walking towards them, they didn't have time for this "Look with you two flying around me all the time the only way I'm going to catch the Snitch is if it flies up my sleeve. Go back to the rest of the team and let me deal with the rogue one" "Don't be thick. It'll take your head off!" Mighty told him. Cocoa agreed "Khan, this is insane. You can't let Silver deal with that thing on his own. Let's ask for an inquiry".
Silver shook his head "We'll have to forfeit the match. We're not losing to Raiju over a ball. Just leave me alone and protect the others". Ray was now glaring at Khan "This is all your fault! 'Get the Ga or die trying!' What a stupid thing to tell him". Longclaw arrived "Ready to resume playing?". Khan considered "Alright, Ray, Mighty, you heard Silver. Let him deal with the Thunderball". The game continued, as expected Silver spent a lot of time trying avoid the ball. Rutan was following him not only to prevent him catching the Ga but he also found the site very funny. But then something happened, in a moment where Silver was able to stop he noticed a flashing red light coming from behind Rutan's left ear. Silver sped towards him, Rutan moved out of the way thinking SIlver was attacking him. He then realised what was happening and gave chase. Rutan's board was much faster as he caught up easily. He pushed Silver and the two raced around the outline of the pitch. The Ga suddenly dived inside the rafters and the two went down after it. Rutan got ahead as the two struggled to avoid the wooden supports in their way. Rutan's hand was getting close to the Ga "You'll never catch me, Hedgehog!". Silver then realised the Thunderball was right behind him and it didn't have to worry about dodging supports as it was breaking right through them. Rutan made to big a turn to avoid a support and needed a moment to regain his balance. Silver used this opportunity to catch up with him. The two were now side by side tyring to knock each other off their boards. The Thunderball shot past them and out of the wall. Silver realised what is was doing right before it happed.
He flew back out onto the pitch as the ball charged back into the rafters ahead of him. Rutan moved too quickly to avoid it causing the front of his board to hit one of the supports. He was thrown out by the force and landed back on the grass clutching his stomach. Silver held out his hand to grab the Gah when *WHAM* "AHHH!" the Thunderball had finally hit him right in the arm. He felt it break but he fought through the searing pain. The Gah was right in front of him. He held out his other hand and just managed to grab it before he passed out and fell off his board. He felt some people helping him sit up, it was Coral and Razor "You did it! We won" "Are you okay?". Silver clutched his right arm "No… I think it's broken". Geoffrey arrived "Not to worry, Silver, I will fix that arm of yours straight away" "What… No, not you" "He doesn't know what he saying". As the crowd grew around Silver he spotted Mighty and Ray trying to wrestle the Thunderball back into the crate. Geoffrey waved his hands and shot a spell at Silver's arm. A strange and unpleasant sensation started at Silver's shoulder and spread all the way down to his fingertips. It felt as though his arm was being deflated. He didn't dare look at what was happening. He had shut his eyes, his face turned away from his arm, but his worst fears were realized as the people above him gasped and Skye began clicking away madly with his camera. His arm didn't hurt anymore, nor did it feel remotely like an arm. Goeffrey looked worried "Ah, well, you see… That sometimes happens". Silver finally opened his eyes and saw Goeffrey bend his hand a complete 180 degrees at the wrist "The important thing to remember is that you can no longer feel any pain. And of course the bones are not broke". Big looked horrified "Broken!? There's no bones left!" "Much more flexible, though".
Vanilla ran into the hospital wing and past a moaning Rutan on one of the beds "Oh, Mr Rutan, stop making such a fuss, you can go! Out of my way!". She pushed past the Shinobi team to Silver who was lying on his own bed "You should have come straight to me. I can mend bones in heartbeat but growing them back". Silver looked worried "You will be able to, right?" "Oh, I'll be able to but it'll be a bit painful. You're in for a rough night, I'm afraid". She went to get something from her store. Coral was still somewhat defensive of Geoffrey "Anyone can make a mistake. It doesn't hurt anymore, does it, Silver?" "No, but it doesn't do anything else, either". Vanilla returned with a capsule containing a green substance inside. She opened the capsule and poured it into a cup "Drink this". Silver took a sip, the moment it touched his tongue he spat it back out. Vanilla took the cup "Well, what'd you expect? Pumpkin Juice!?". She poured him more and this time gave him a glare that forced him to drink it all. Once she was satisfied she left. Razor shrugged "Well, at least we won. That was some catch you made" "I just want to know how he fixed that ball" "Longclaw said she'll look into it". Mighty was grinning "Forget about that, Silver. That flying you did was unbelievable. You should have seen Konor. He was yelling at Rutan the whole way up to the hospital wing". Vanilla returned "This boy needs rest. He's got 33 bones to regrow. Out! Out!". Silver was now alone with nothing to distract him from the indescribable feeling of his bones regrowing.
Silver was awoken in the middle of the night. He felt an awful pain in his arm which now had a solid feeling in it. But this turned out not to be what woke him up "Hello". Lue the Marmolim was standing on his bed "Lue?" "Silver the Hedgehog came back to school. Lue warned Silver. Why didn't Silver go back home when he missed the train". Silver glared at him "It was you! You stopped me and Razor getting through the barrier". Lue looked guilty "Yes, sir. Lue felt awful, sir. Lue had to iron his hands". Lue revealed his bandaged hands "Lue was so shocked to hear you still got to school he burnt the master's food. Such a flogging Lue had ever had, sir". Silver sat up and was looking murderous "You nearly got us expelled. I could strangle you". Lue gave a week smile "Lue is used to death threats, sir. Lue gets them five times a day at home". Lue climbed down from the bed. His hands hurt from touching the bed. Silver's pity overtook his anger "You should put on some gloves" "Lue cannot wear any clothes, sir. Tis a mark of the Marmolims enslavement. Lue can only be freed if his masters present him with clothes, sir. The family is careful not to pass Lue even a sock, sir, for then he would be free to leave their house forever. Now, Silver must listen to Lue. He must go home. Lue thought the Thunderball would-" "That was you!?". Lue backed away "Lue is trying to save Silver. Better sent home gravely injured than dead" "Why? What is it?". Tears fell from Lue's face "If Silver the Hedgehog only knew. If he knew what he means to us, to the lowly, the enslaved, we dregs of the magical world! Lue remembers how it was when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was at the height of his powers, sir! We Marmolims were treated like vermin, sir! Of course, Lue is still treated like that, sir. But mostly, sir, life has improved for my kind since you triumphed over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Silver the Hedgehog survived, and the Dark Lord's power was broken, and it was a new dawn, sir, and Silver the Hedgehog shone like a beacon of hope for those of us who thought the Dark days would never end. And now, at Soleanna, terrible things are to happen, are perhaps happening already, and Lue cannot let Silver the Hedgehog stay here now that history is to repeat itself, now that the Chamber of Secrets is open once more".
He gasped and suddenly jumped onto the bedside cabinet. He started hitting himself with the empty cup "Bad Lue! Bad Lue!". Silver grabbed him "Once more? This has happened before? There is a Chamber?" "Silver the Hedgehog must leave" "But I'm not Muggle Born. Why am I in danger?". Lue didn't answer, "Who's opened it, Lue?" "Lue can't say, sir. Silver must save himself" "I'm not going anywhere. One of my best friends is Muggle-born; she'll be first in line if the Chamber really has been opened" he spoke fiercely. Lue smiled "Silver the Hedgehog risks his life for his friends. So noble but he must protect…". They heard footsteps "Lue must go" Lue clicked his fingers and Silver was now clutching air. The footsteps got closer, Silver fell back into his bed and pretended to be asleep. The doors opened, Locke came in carrying one end of what looked like a statue. Echo then appeared carrying the legs. They put it on the bed "Get Madame Vanilla". Silver heard them return and then Vanilla gasped "What happened?" "Another attack. Echo found him" "He was outside the hospital wing. I think he was trying to visit Silver". Silver quietly turned his head and got a quick glance at the bed. It was Skye, frozen with his hands in front of him holding a camera. Echo took the camera "Maybe he got a picture of his attacker". Locke took it from her and slowly opened it "Good gracious" Vanilla said. Steam came out of the camera, the film inside had melted "What does this mean, Locke" Echo asked. Locke stared gravely at the camera "It means that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened again". Vanilla clasped her hand over her mouth. Echo stared at Locke "Surely not… Who?" "The question is not who… But how".